Self-sealing electric light socket for refrigerator panels



Feb, 1, 1949. c, M HOLLOWAY 2,460,636

SELF-SEALING ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET FoR REFRIGERATOR PANELS Filed Sept. 9, 1948 I Patented Feb. 1, 1949 SELF-SEALING ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET FOR REFRIGERATOR PANELS Charles M. Holloway, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 9, 1948, Serial No. 48,407 3 Claims. (01. 113-339) This invention relates to an electric light socket for refrigerator panels, which is self-sealing upon installation.

Among the objects of my invention is to pro vide an electric light socket which is simple and economical to construct, install and use in a refrigerator panel, which is effectively sealed against moisture and which meets all electrical code safety requirements; to provide a socket which may be easily installed and removed by hand and which upon installation seals the socket opening to prevent turning, removal or the passage of moisture through the socket opening.

In the manufacture of home refrigerators, it has been found desirable to provide an electric light within the interior of the refrigerator, so that the contents of the refrigerator are easily visible. It is customary in the trade for an electrical manufacturer to assemble all of the component electric lighting parts of the refrigerator in a unit, which is referred to as a harness. The harness comprises the electric light socket, switch, wiring and any other desired parts. At the time the refrigerator is assembled, the harness is installed and the socket fitted into place in the refrigerator panel.

The refrigerator manufacturer provides an opening in the wall or panel of the refrigerator in which opening the socket is to be installed. It is among the objects of my invention to provide a socket for which the manufacturer need furnish only one opening in the panel, without any additional openings or fastening devices. My socket, with the electrical wires already installed, may easily be snapped into place in a matter of seconds. It is completely self-scab ing, sealing itself against movement and sealin the socket opening against the passage of moisture from the refrigerated compartment.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a socket which meets the standards of electrical safety, which require that the socket be capable of withstanding a minimum' of 20 in. lbs. of torque and a minimum of 20 lbs. of pullout pressure. This minimum strength is necessary in order to avoid damage to the socket when light bulbs are installed in or removed from the socket.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a socket having means integral with the socket itself for holding a light guard to prevent the bulb from being accidentally broken. My invention also provides a light installation which requires a minimum of space between the refrigerator wall and freezer compartmentand which is modern and attractive in appearance.

A further object of -my invention is to provide a socket which may be easily removed from the refrigerator panel for repair or inspection of the socket or wiring and then easily replaced after repair.

My invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings. a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet it should be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my socket installed in the refrigerator panel; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same; Fig. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator panel and socket opening; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of my socket; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. '7 is a bottom plan view of the same; Fig. 8 is a side elevational viewof my socket installed in a refrigerator panel with a light bulb and lamp guard shown installed in dotted lines and Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of a lamp guard in dotted lines on line 9 of Fig. 8.

A preferred embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a body member it, which is preferably formed of molded rubber. The material used in body member it) must be sufflciently soft and flexible to permit movement in the manner hereinafter described. Extending outwardly from the base of body member 50 are a pair of electrical wires H and H, which provide electric current to the socket. Body member it) has a hollow interior with a front opening. Within its interior is mounted a screw-threaded shell base i3, which is adapted to receive the base of an electric light bulb. Shell base i3 is connected to electric wires ii and i2 to operate a light bulb.

My socket is adapted to be installed in a refrigerator panel H, which is provided with a single eg -shaped socket opening l5. It is cu'stomary to place opening IS in the panel which forms the back wall of the refrigerator, directly behind and at the lower edge of the freezer section.

Body member Ill is provided at its exterior with an outwardly projecting integral upper flange l6, which extends obliquely, along each side of body its base and extending obliquely forward and a downward are integral side flanges ll and it, which extend outwardly from body member id.

Side flanges ll and i8 are spaced slightly from upper flange l8 to provide a groove between side flanges I1 and i8 and upper flange i6. Side flanges ii and i8 extend for approximately onehalf of the length of body member-ill.

n the front of body member I t, directly beneath the front opening is an integral front flange it, which is spaced slightly from upper flange it to form a groove therebetween. Front flange i9 extends outwardly from'body member it for approximately one-half of the distance that upper flange l6 extends.

On the rear of body member it is an integral rear flange 20, which extends outwardly from body member ID and is spaced slightly from upper flange l6 to form a groove therebetween. Rear flange 20 terminates adjacent the ends of side flanges l1 and I8.

On each side of body. member ill near the front opening are integral lamp guard receiving members which extend outwardly from body member I 0. The lamp guard receiving members comprise front members 2i and 22 and rear members 23 and 24. Front members 2! and 22 extend in a straight line from adjacent the edge of upper flange i6 parallel to the front opening in body member In. Rear members 23 and 24 extend in a straight line .parallel to front members 2| and 22 respectively and 'are spaced slightly therefrom.

Between the ends of the front and rear members which overlap upper flange l6 are openings 25 and 26, which are small holes extending into body member Iii and which are adapted to receive and hold the ends of a lamp guard 21.

Lamp guard 21 comprises a circular member which is adapted to encircle the-portion of body member III which projects above panel l l, with its ends bent at right angles to penetrate into openings 25 and 26. .The remainder of lamp guard 21 comprises a plurality of wires formed in any desired manner to guard whatever type light bulb is used in my socket.

In operation, my socket is formed offairly soft molded rubber, with the flanges and lamp guards integral with and projecting outwardly from the body member. Electric wires H and I2 are connected to screw-threaded shell base I! and the entire harness assembly is installed in the refrigerator so that my socket is positioned directly beneath socket opening IS in refrigerator panel I 4, ready for installation.

Body member II is pulled upwardly through the larger end of socket opening [5. It is then pushed rearwardly until the rear edge of socket opening I is held between upper flange l6,

and rear flange 2!. Body member I! is then twisted until the side edges of socket opening iiare held between upper flange i6 and side flange l1 and I8. The front of body member is then pushed downwardly until front flange I! snaps under panel ll, so that the front edge of socket opening I5 is held between upper flange l6 and front flange N.

This installation can be made by a trained worker in less than three seconds, without the use of any tools or equipment. Once my socket is installed, upper flange l6 grips the entire edge 4 against the face of refrigerator panel I 4. This provides a seal which prevents any moisture from passing through socket opening it.

In the event that trouble occurs in the lighting circuit. my socket may be easily removed for inspection or repair of the socket or wiring and easily replaced after repair. A light bulb placed in my socket projects downwardly at an angle. so as to give a modern appearance, without any extraneous bolts or fastening devices. It is particularly adapted to be used behind the freezer section of a refrigerator, where it requires a minimum of space.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An electric light socket for refrigerator panels comprising an outer molded rubber housing having a hollow interior with a front opening adapted to receive an electric light bulb, a screwthreaded shell base mounted within the interior of said rubber housing, a pair of electrical wires extending through the base of said rubber housing for connecting said shell base to a suitable source of electrical supply, an upper flange integral with said rubber housing and extending outwardly from and diagonally around the entire outer surface of said rubber housing separating said front opening from said pair of electrical wires, a rear flange integral with said rubber housing and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the base of said rubber housing, said rear flange positioned directly beneath said 'upper flange and spaced slightly therefrom on a corresponding diagonal line, a front flange integral with said rubber housing and extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the front opening of said rubber housing, said front flange positioned directly beneath said upper flange and spaced slightly therefrom on a corresponding diagonal line, a side flange integral with said rubber housing and extending outwardly therefrom on each of the opposite sides of said rubber housing, said side flanges positioned directly beneath said upper flange and spaced slightly therefrom in a corresponding diagonal line, said socket adapted to be installed by hand without the use of tools in a single irregular opening in a refrigerator panel of a refrigeration chamber corresponding in shape to the shape of the said housing between said diagonal flanges, so that said flanges grip the edges of the opening and hold the edges in the space between said upper flange and said front, rear and side flanges so that said socket may not be accidentally turned or removed and said upper flange contacts the face of the refrigerator panel around the entire circumference of the opening to provide a moisture proof seal around said opening, with said front opening positioned in panels comprising an outer molded rubber housof socket opening I! and is held tightly flat front of the refrigerator panel for insertion of an electric light bulb and said pair of electrical wires positioned behind the refrigerator panel for electrical connection outside of the refrigeration chamber.

2. An electric light socket for refrigerator ing having a hollow interior with a front opening adapted to receive an electric light bulb, a pair of electrical wires extending from said housing for connecting said socket to a suitable source of electrical supply, an upper flange integral with said'rubber housing extending around the outside of said rubber housing to form "an oval separating said front opening from said pair of electrical wires, four flanges integral with said rubber housing extending outwardly therefrom 2,4eo,ese

on the front, rear and two sides of said rubber housing and spaced slightly from said upper flange on a corresponding line, said socket adapted to be installed without the use of tools in a single oval-shaped opening in a refrigerator panel corresponding in shape to the oval formed between said flanges, so that said flanges grip the edges of the opening and hold the edges in the space between said upper flange and said front, rear and side flanges, so that said socket may not be accidentally turned and said upper flange contacts the face of the refrigerator panel around the entire circumference of the opening to provide a moisture proof seal around said opening, with saidfront opening positioned on one side of the refrigerator panel for insertion of an electric light bulb and said pair of electrical refrigerator panel corresponding in shape to the wires positioned on the other side of said refrigerator panel for electrical connection.

3. An electric light socket for refrigerator panels comprising an outer flexible housing having a hollow interior with a front opening adapted to receive an electric light bulb, means for connecting said socket to a suitable source of electrical supply, a continuous flange extending around the outside of said housing to form a non-circular shape, a plurality of shorter shape of.said housing between said flanges, so that said flanges grip the edges of the opening and hold the edges in the space between said continuous flange and said shorter flanges, so that said socket may notice accidentally turned and said continuous flange contacts the face of the refrigerator panel around the entire circumference of the opening to provide a moisture proof seal around said opening. CHARLES M. HOLLOWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

